Frankly Speaking

The New Hampshire House voted to reject the Federal Real ID act yesterday.

"It is probably the worst piece of blackmail to come out of the federal government. This is pure, unadulterated blackmail," said. Rep. Sherman Packard, a Republican from Londonderry.

The states have been given until December 31, 2009 to comply with the Real ID Act, which requires them to establish uniform national licensing standards and link their databases. Individuals whose licenses do not conform to the
standard will be barred from entering federal buildings and boarding airplanes.

As someone who has worked in information security for several years, allow me to point to the linked database of driver info and scream at the top of my lungs, "that is a bad idea".

Given the governments propensity for losing laptops full of unencrypted information, and exposing millions of veterans personal information, I am opposed to anything that creates a giant target for would be identity thieves.

Rep. Neal Kurk, a Republican from Weare and the prime sponsor of New Hampshire's bill, says 26 states have either legislation or resolutions in the works opposing Real ID. He said 11 have legislation facilitating compliance - some of which also have measures opposing the act.

The more states that oppose this, the better. If the states actually stand up to the federal government every now and again, maybe the feds will learn that they are not G-d after all. Or at least realize that they have grown far beyond what the founders envisioned.

Labels: governmental idiocy